Win or lose, Noruwa Agho is back on the hardwood after every single game.

Win and he goes through a light workout. He will lift some weights. Put up some jump shots. Just to serve as a ‘reminder.’

Lose and he goes hard. He takes a shot, sprints to the other end, sprints back and puts up another shot. He will play hours of one-on-one with teammate and best friend Issa Mase. This serves as ‘punishment.’

‘My postgame obsession just reminds me of how I got to this point,’ Agho said. ‘Regardless of what happens in the game, you haven’t accomplished anything yet and just need to get better. Sometimes they are more tough than others, though, and that depends on how we did.’

Agho’s routine is paying off.

After averaging only 9.1 points as a freshman at Columbia University last season, Agho’s average has jumped to a team-leading 17 points per game. He is currently shooting 55 percent from beyond the arc.

The 6-foot-3 sophomore shooting guard does not play in one of Division I’s powerhouse conferences, but his name sits among the likes of Maurice Acker, Austin Freeman and Tim Abromaitis when it comes to 3-point percentage.

Agho grew up in New City, N.Y. He played soccer and baseball until he was nine or 10. Then, it was time for a change.

‘Most of my friends played basketball and I was the only one who didn’t, so I decided to give it a try,’ Agho said. ‘It became addictive and just took off from there.’

When he was in high school, Agho and his friends would drive around looking for a game. Any game. The group would invade recreation centers, local parks and backyards. His game evolved, and so did his passion.

Agho dropped soccer and baseball and focused solely on basketball. He spent countless nights playing on the hoop in his driveway.

‘There was a light on the side of my house, so we could play all night,’ Agho said. ‘It was just fun because we could hang out and get better at the same time.’

Agho developed into a McDonald’s All-American nominee at St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, N.J., but was not interested in any of the colleges that looked at him. He did not play on an AAU team and thus did not garner much attention from Division I coaches.

As a result, he decided to enroll at prep school at the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J. That summer, he played AAU ball with the New Jersey Cyclones and attracted Columbia head coach James Jones’ attention.

Agho was sold and decided on Columbia before even arriving at the Peddie School.

‘I knew it was a great school academically, and athletically I felt like the program had real potential,’ Agho said. ‘New York City is the best place in the world, and I thought Coach Jones was just as passionate as I was about winning and getting better.’

The Lions are getting better thanks in large part to the work ethic of Agho.

After last season’s 12-16 finish, Agho felt ‘unsatisfied.’ He dedicated himself to the game like never before.

‘I knew I could excel at the college level and be a better player and teammate,’ Agho said. ‘I made up my mind to really work toward being as good as I can be.’

After the last game of the season Agho and Mase began to work out twice a day. Over the summer the duo stayed on campus and continued their two-a-day sessions. They lifted, did numerous shooting drills and were in the gym whenever they had a free moment.

Agho tries not to think about the future but knows he would love basketball to be a part of it.

‘When I was younger I had NBA aspirations,’ Agho said. ‘But, throughout the process I have learned to just be as good as I can be, and however that pans out I know I won’t have any regrets. But I do love the game and don’t want to stop until someone makes me.’

Thursday-

No. 21 Georgia Tech at No. 10 Duke, ESPN2, 7 p.m.

The Cameron Crazies will be riled up as the Blue Devils look to avenge a four-point loss at Georgia Tech earlier this year. Coming off a tough loss to Georgetown, Duke will be fired up to get a conference win.

Duke 72, Georgia Tech 62

Saturday-

No. 2 Villanova at No. 7 Georgetown, noon, ESPN

Led by Scottie Reynolds, Villanova is undefeated in the Big East and has won 11 in a row. The Hoyas fell to Villanova earlier this season by five points, but will have the comforts of its home court. Greg Monroe needs to step up inside for the Hoyas to have a shot at the win.

Villanova 78, Georgetown 76

Sunday-

No. 3 Syracuse at Cincinnati, 2 p.m.

Syracuse had a scare at DePaul in what appeared to be an easy win. Cincinnati will be fired up, and freshman sensation Lance Stephenson has led the Bearcats to a 14-7 overall record.

Syracuse 80, Cincinnati 70

Monday-

No. 1 Kansas at No. 9 Texas, 9 p.m., ESPN

Big Monday is sure to be big in Austin. After dropping three of four, including an overtime loss to Baylor, the Longhorns will look to get back on track when No. 1 Kansas comes to town.

Texas 73, Kansas 71

No. 2 Villanova at No. 6 West Virginia, 7 p.m., ESPN

In this matchup West Virginia looks to show it belongs with the big dogs of the Big East. After a crushing loss by one against Syracuse, West Virginia has won five straight, with wins against Ohio State and Louisville.

West Virginia 77, Villanova 75

restern@syr.edu